Many thanks to @minotaur_books and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 5/28/24.

Okay, so I'm sure it's me because I just finished some really great 5-star reads before reading this one, but this one just felt so over the top and unbelievable. This novel is getting rave reviews, so it has to be me. This was a fast-paced read with lots of action told through multiple POVs with short chapters that ended with cliffhangers, so I was eager to get back to that POV. I definitely recommend reading this one despite my review.

Five years ago, Ryan was on a date with his girlfriend Ali making out in the car. The next thing he knows, he is hit over the head and wakes up lying in the grass with the car and Ali gone. Ryan was a suspect but never charged. He vaguely remembers seeing the person who did this. Five years later, Ryan is on vacation for a school trip, and he recognizes a guy staring at him. It's the guy!

4.5 stars - This was a fun, quick read for me. I loved the multiple points of view - this writing style keeps me interested, and I couldn't put the book down! I don't want to spoil anything, but it was worth it to see how everything came together. As with many books, there are some points that are a bit unrealistic, but I read to escape and I thought this book was perfect for that. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advance review copy!

If Something Happens to Me is a fast-paced thriller that opens with a bang, throwing you into the harrowing experience of Ryan Richardson and his girlfriend, Alison. Finlay masterfully weaves a narrative from the viewpoints of several characters, including Ryan, an inexperienced sheriff's deputy, and a vengeful mob boss. This multifaceted approach allows readers to see the story unfold from different angles, building suspense and keeping them guessing about who to trust. Each chapter's end is its mini cliffhanger.
While the suspense is undeniable, the novel also delves into the psychological impact of trauma. We see how the disappearance affects Ryan, his family, and the entire community. It explores themes of grief, guilt, and the lengths people will go to in search of closure.
The number of characters and timelines sometimes feels overwhelming; many need a lasting presence to buy the conclusion. The first and second acts are on point with action and intrigue. However, the third act is predictable and out of sorts from the beginning. The characters are compelling, but as the mystery unfolds, they become unrealistic narrators, especially Poppy. Given her inexperience, the background is too thin to find Poppy a reliable investigator. Nonetheless, if you like twisty thrillers with a touch of emo, you may enjoy this one.

I totally binged Alex Finlays latest thriller: IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME.

My thoughts:
-a lot of characters and locations to keep track of
-fast paced
-suspenseful
-mob vibes

Although there are a lot of characters and locations, it all comes together nicely. If you’re looking for a quick thriller, I’d check this out and THE NIGHT SHIFT also by Finlay.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur for the arc ☺️

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Format: Audiobook & E-Book

Short chapters, writing so compelling that you’re hooked on page 1, and memorable characters so filled with surprises that you’re not sure who to root for as the book progresses — what more to ask for in a thriller? It’s one of those books where you keep telling yourself you’ll stop reading for the night after “just one more chapter” until you realize you’ve binged the whole book in one sitting, it’s that good.

Huge thank you to Alex Finlay, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

This kept me on my toes the whole time. So good. So many plot twists. Loved it. I loved the short chapters and how fast paced it made the book feel.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

I have yet to meet an Alex Finaly book I didn't like. This one was so intriguing to me, I love multiple POVs and this was no exception. I did not initially understand the connection to one of the POVs but when it was revealed at the end of Part 1 I basically was hooked and did not put the book back down until it ended. I always long for more of an ending, but I did like the multiple POV each getting their own bit of closure.

4/5 easily.

Omg this kept me on my toes the whole time! It gave me similar vibes to The Last Thing He Told Me and I absolutely adored that book. There were so many twists and turns and none of them I saw coming. I loved all of the different settings we were taken to throughout the story, and how everyone eventually tied together. Wow wow wow—Alex Finlay is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller authors!

“If something happens to me” by Alex Finlay was an edge of your seat gripping thriller. This book was a really fast read because I just couldn’t put it down.

4⭐️

Five years ago, Ryan Richardson's girlfriend was taken from his car while they were parked at Lovers Lake. After being hit in the head, Ryan doesn't remember much from that night except the sound of Ali's screams and the man who was missing both pinkie fingers. No one in town believed the story about the man with the pinkie fingers and assumed that Ryan had killed Ali. After being found innocent, Ryan left town for college and later law school. He has mostly moved on.

That is until a car is found in the lake back home. A car that belonged to Ali's father. That car contained two dead, unidentified men and a note that said 'If Something Happens to Me' in Ali's handwriting. And even though he's on a trip in Tuscany, Ryan's pretty sure he just saw the man with no pinkies.

Alex Finlay quickly became an auto-read author for me last year and If Something Happens to me really cemented that belief. I loved the story building and the way the different points of view eventually come together. Each character was strong enough to stand on their own and their backgrounds really drove the story.

I think with this one I felt like I had to suspend my belief on what's possible a bit too much for this to be a five star read. I can't really say much with spoiling things but at times I kind of rolled my eyes at the luck these characters had for things to work out the way the did. There is also one storyline/character arc who's ending just felt like it wrapped up a little too easy.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin Minotaur for providing this ARC to me!

Five years after a horrible night where his girlfriend Ali disappears without a trace, and having the world think that he had everything to do with it, Ryan Richardson has seemingly begun to create a new life for himself. But then the past starts to come back to haunt him when Ali’s car is found with bodies and a mysterious note inside. Will he be able to find the answers to finally clear his name? His life is intertwined with a young sheriffs deputy and a mobster. They are the key to solving the mystery of what happened that fateful night.

I really enjoyed the building of all of the characters stories in this book, They all fit neatly together like a puzzle. I think the ending just really didn’t satisfy me for how much mystery and intensity happened throughout the rest of the book. Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this story.

I LOVED this mystery! This was a different pace than my usual thriller. I was hooked from the very beginning. 10/10 recommend

Alex Finlay’s If Something Happens To Me is a propulsive roller coaster of a novel with surprises and cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, that keeps the reader salivating for more.

Read this if you like:
-face paced action with lots of reveals and plenty of twists, many that were unexpected
-flawed and some downright villainous characters who are quite likeable
-multiple settings in America and Europe
-past and present storylines interweave and eventually the connections are made
-multiple POVs with short riveting chapters
-revenge motives and missing persons
-different families and their dynamics
-satisfying ending

My rating: 5 out of 5 I loved everything about this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books for this eARC that will be released May 28 2024.

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I was thrilled to receive a copy of "If Something Happens to Me" via NetGalley, especially given my growing admiration for this author's work. True to form, this latest mystery did not disappoint. The author's writing style continues to be exciting to me as he makes the chapters fly by. I enjoyed how the chapters were fairly short but they each still packed a punch.

There are quite a few characters in this story to keep straight, and the frequent shifts in perspective, coupled with multiple locations spanning cities in America and abroad made it occasionally feel disorientating. Although I wasn't quite sure how everything was tying together in the beginning, it does all click into place, and there are definitely some "ah-ha" moments.

While I found the ending somewhat abrupt, overall, "If Something Happens to Me" is a riveting, fast-paced read that I wholeheartedly recommend.

I loved this! It has been awhile since I have had a 5-star read. I flew through this one so fast! The beginning scene grabbed my attention and I couldn’t get enough of it through the last page. I think this may be his best one yet!

This book had me hooked from the very beginning, if it weren’t for having responsibilities, I probably would have finished it within days. I loved the multiple point of views and short chapters, it keeps things quick and helps with the twists. I didn’t think it had a crazy twist or tons of shock factor. It was just a fun read! Things happened quickly to keep the story intense and captivating. I wanted to find out this story so badly and see how it all unfolded. It gave me Harlan Coben vibes, which is a high compliment because he is one of my favorites. Very much enjoyed this and so happy to have had the privilege of reading it early!

Ryan and his girlfriend, Ali, are at Lover's Lane doing what young teenagers in love do when Ryan is hit unconscious. When he finally comes to his girlfriend and her car are gone. What happened to Ali?

Ryan is accused of foul play. They don't believe him when he says he didn't see anything which makes him their #1 suspect. His Dad hires a hot shot lawyer and no charges are filed and no evidence is found but Ryan's life will never be the same again. People never forget when you're accused of murder.

Fast forward 5 years later and Ali's car has been found in the bottom of a lake. Inside are two long since dead men and Ali's handbag. Inside that hand bag is a note "If something happens to me" followed by a cryptic puzzle.

Is it possible that Ali's alive and safe somewhere? You'll have to read this to find out!

Okay, I can totally see why this book has such high ratings. Fast paced, short chapters, and likeable characters you can root for will leave many thriller readers *thrilled* with Alex Finlay's latest. I liked it well enough but it was never a love match for me. My main complaint is the mafia aspect. I just didn't buy it and felt it was a little cheesy. It's also a HUGE part to the storyline so while I was invested in the outcome I was never super excited whenever I picked this up. This is a me thing. I prefer psychological thrillers more so than action packed shoot 'em ups. If YOU like a lot of action with a mafia angle then this one is sure to satisfy! 3 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.

4 stars.

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this copy for review. This one is hard to talk about without giving away too many details due to possibly spoiling it. My suggestion is to go into this book knowing as little as possible. I loved that the book was two in multiple POVs (one of my favorites for thrillers). I loved the character dynamic and their over development throughout the story. I can't wait to see this book in the bookstores so I can pick up a finish copy. Defiantly my favorite by Alex Finlay.

Out of all the books I’ve read this year, this one stands out as one of the best. The transitions between timelines and point-of-view in the book were executed flawlessly, showcasing Alex Finlay’s superb writing style, while the captivating plot kept me on the edge of my seat. The unexpected twists in the plot left me visibly shaken, and by the end I was speechless. It is safe to say that this book will be among the top-tier releases of 2024, making it an essential addition to your TBR.

Ryan Richardson was in a car with his high school girlfriend Alison Lane when he was hit over the head and pulled from the car. When he woke up, Ali and the car were gone. This face paced thriller has begun! Ryan was never charged but was thought to be a killer and had to change his name and give up his basketball career to escape the haunting accusations.
Fast forward 5 years and the car was found submerged in the lake with 2 dead males inside. And the mystery resurfaces. Told by 3 narrators, the story unfolds and the reader tries to piece together how the 3 voices of the story intertwine to explain what actually happened to Ali.
This is a suspenseful read that is impossible to put down! It has mystery, intrigue, and lots of twists and turns.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the advanced copy of this heart pounding thriller.